Police & Fire Commission
September 11, 2007, 4:32 p.m.

Roll Call: Commissioners Nuck, Meyer, Schleihs and Taylor
Commissioner Rice, excused

Also Present: Police Chief Morris, Fire Chief Barnes, Mayor Halverson, Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Sinkler

Index of these minutes:

2. Adjourn into executive session (approximately 4:30 p.m.) pursuant to Wis. Stats. ss. 19.85 (1) (c) for the following: a. Probationary firefighter/paramedic interview
3. Reconvene into open session (approximately 4:45 p.m.) for possible action on item number 2(a).
4. People to be heard and announcements
5. Approval of Minutes - August 14, 2007 meeting and August 28, 2007 special meeting
6. Confirmation of Bills
7. Fire Chief's Report
8. Police Chief's Report
9. Adjournment

2. Adjourn into executive session (approximately 4:30 p.m.) Pursuant to Wis. Stats. Section 19.85 (1) (c) for the following:

a. Probationary firefighter/paramedic interview

Commissioner Nuck moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to adjourn into closed session.

Roll call: Ayes: Commissioners Meyer, Nuck, Schleihs and Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.

3. Reconvene into open session (approximately 4:45 p.m.) For possible action on item number 2 (a).

Commissioner Rice moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to reconvene into open session.

Roll call: Ayes: Commissioners Meyer, Nuck, Schleihs and Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.

Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to approve Probationary Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Sinkler to regular status upon the successful completion of his probationary period.

Roll call: Ayes: Commissioners Meyer, Nuck, Schleihs and Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.

4. People to be heard and announcements

President Schleihs will contact the County to improve communication and request that the PFC receive the EMS Oversight Committee's monthly agenda.

A resolution will be sent this week to the Senator, Assemblyman and Governor to support the resolution opposing a provision of the budget bill at sections 2666f and 2679i which would reduce local citizen control over Police and Fire personnel through non-partisan Police and Fire Commissions .

5. Approval of Minutes - August 14, 2007 and August 28, 2007

Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Meyer, to approve the minutes of the August 14, 2007 meeting.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Nuck, to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2007 special meeting.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

6. Confirmation of Bills

Commissioner Nuck moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to accept the confirmation of the Police Department's August 2007 bills.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Nuck, to accept the confirmation of the Fire Department's August 2007 bills.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

7. Fire Chief's Report

Chief Barnes reported:

• The Chief briefed the Commission on the status of Station #2.
• Mr. Robert Finn of Westchester, Illinois has passed all his entry level exams and will start his position as Deputy Chief at the Fire Department on October 15, 2007.
• The Chief received the resignation of Motor Pump Operator Dan Menzel effective October 15, 2007.
• Current staffing and the status of new hires were discussed.
• The Chief provided the Commission with a list of six applicants he is recommending be placed on the firefighter eligibility list.
• Mayor Halverson is anticipating the final report later in September on the management pay plan study.
• The Department is planning an open house for the four new hires.
• The Mayor and the City Personnel Committee have approved the chief traveling out of state in November to attend the National Fire Academy's pilot course entitled "Command and Control Decision Making at Multiple Alarm Incidents."
• Fire Prevention Week is October 7 - 13, 2007. This year's theme is "Practice Your Escape Plan." To kick off fire prevention week the Fire Department, in conjunction with Downtown's Harvest Fest, will be doing a live fire demonstration on the effectiveness of fire suppression sprinkler systems.
• The Chief informed the PFC of a countywide training on school bus extrication being held Saturday, September 15, 2007.
• The Chief provided copies of five new SOPs:

• 4004.03, EMS Response Mode Determination
• 1072.00, Driver Training
• 1072.01, Annual Driver Performance Rating
• 1072.02, Quarterly Driver Performance Rating
• 1072.03, Driver Skill Score Sheet

Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Nuck, to accept the Fire Chief's Report for August 2007.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried

8. Police Chief's Report

Chief Morris reported:

• The 2007 crime stats for the year to date show total calls for service have increased by 656 compared to 2006. There has been a 30% increase in OWI citations, a 22% increase in underage alcohol violation citations (ages 18-20), a 28% increase in Underage Juvenile Alcohol violation citations (under 18) and a 128% increase in occupants permitting loud party citations.
• In August Jason Zencka from the Stevens Point Journal spent several hours observing in dispatch and riding along with patrol. He has written two articles on dispatch and has work in progress on patrol articles.
• Following a meeting with Woodland Computing Group, Inc. a timetable was developed for the installation and acceptance testing of the Department's planned computer aided dispatch system. The system will allow the tracking of all Department activity and enable the Department to better manage manpower, productivity, and goal achievement.
• The Chief is investigating the possibility of purchasing the language training system Rosetta Stone to start an in-house program to allow officers and dispatchers to learn conversational Spanish.
• The school year for all educational systems is off to a successful start. The Chief has met with school administration regarding implementation of a plan to close East Avenue adjacent to Jefferson School.
• An ongoing issue with SPASH has been the off campus behavior of a small group of students who frequent Bukolt Park during their lunch break. This year the Department has adopted a stronger stance and less tolerance of disorderly behavior. The students have been counseled regarding this behavior and have been notified that in the future violators will be cited a violation of City Park Rules 10.07, failure to follow park rules.
• The Management Team and Commissioner Taylor commenced holding weekly meetings on Tuesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The purpose of the meetings is to formulate a new strategic plan and methods to achieve success of the plan.

Commissioner Nuck moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to approve the Police Chief's report for August, 2007.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried

9. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.

The meeting minutes reproduced on this website are derived from the computer files used to produce the official minutes for the City of Stevens Point, but are unofficial. The minutes on this web site cannot be certified under s. 889.08, Wis. Stats., and cannot be considered prima facie evidence under s. 889.04, Wis. Stats. Certain tables, maps, and other documents that are a part of the official minutes are not included in the files reproduced on this website. Please consult the printed minutes, available in the City Clerk's Office, for the official text. The decisions made by City of Stevens Point boards, committees, and commissions (other than the Police & Fire Commission) are advisory only and are not binding on the city until affirmed at a meeting of the Common Council. Some of the minutes on this web site might not be approved by the Common Council as of today.